The slate mining industry was very important in North Wales, especially in the 1830’s. The slate from this area was one of the main sources for the world, being shipped over to America, Poland, and Australia. This included the mines in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Dinorwig Quarry in Llanberis, and Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda.
In 1882 Gwynedd’s quarries made over 280,000 tons of roofing slate, and in 1898 the Welsh industry reached its peak as 17,000 men made 485,000 tons of the material.
Penrhyn Quarry lies within the Ogwen Valley in Bethesda, and was one of the biggest open quarries in the entire world. Back when it was open, the men who worked there were put in dangerous positions on open galleries and terraces. They hung from only ropes tied around their waists, and used wedges and crowbars to hack away at the rock by hand.
Quarrying was hard and vigorous work, relying on strong muscle power and explosions for it to be processed. Gunpowder was used to make explosions which shattered the rock, being packed into small holes drilled into the rock face and compacted with an iron rod. It’s easy to believe accidents were common.
At Penrhyn the slate seams were open at the surface of the mountain, so it could be accessed by these terraces but in other parts of Gwynedd it was below ground. This is where mines were created, cutting deep into the mountains.
This was the situation in the mines at blaenau Ffestiniog – which you can actually visit now at Llechwedd Slate Caverns.
Rows upon rows of huge empty chambers were left as the slate was removed from the mountains by the workmen. These chambers were only supported by thin walls or pillars made of slate.
A big problem the industry encountered was disposing of the waste material which was produced. For every ton of slate which was mined, it would create nine tons of waste. This resulted in huge tips, reshaping the landscape of Gwynedd, which can still be seen today.
The slate mining landscape in Gwynedd was recently nominated to be the next World Heritage Site in the UK. This would put it alongside the world famous spots such as the Grand Canyon and The Great Wall of China.
Our slate roofs are quality and long lasting, and we use Welsh and natural slate. For more information or to receive a free, no-obligation quote, please contact us.